The i7-8700K is Intel’s latest, top of the range, 8th generation Coffee Lake processor. Like Kaby Lake and Sky Lake before that, Coffee Lake is based on Intel’s 14nm architecture which has been slightly optimized on each iteration. Following AMD’s modus operandi, Intel has upped the cores and threads across the range of their CPUs. In previous generations, a 6-core processor would have been a high-end desk-top (HEDT) processor, however the i7-8700K is the first Intel CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads to be classified (and priced) as a mainstream consumer processor. Specifically, the i7-8700K features a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz which boosts to 4.7 GHz (4.5 GHz for the previous generation i7-7700k), 12MB of smart (L3) cache and 2 channels of DDR4 RAM. The majority of the performance improvements over the 7th generation stem from the higher core count which results in a 50% increase in multi-core speed between the i7-7700k and i7-8700k. A new motherboard will need to be factored into the budget when upgrading to the 8700K as it requires a new Intel Z370 chipset which has supposedly been designed to better deliver power to CPUs with a greater number of cores. Also available in this latest release of CPUs is the 6 core 6 thread i5-8600k which is a more rational option (around $100 cheaper) for the vast majority of users that don’t require hyper-threading. Sandy bridge owners can finally justify an upgrade but with the next iteration of AMD's Zen architecture just around the corner the CPU market will be a lot faster moving now that Intel, once again, has to compete. [Sep '17CPUPro]

The quad core and octa threaded Ryzen 1500X is a sub-$200 chip based on AMD's latest Zen architecture. It is released this month as part of the Ryzen 5 launch – a mid-market range specced out to challenge Intel's i5 series and yield considerably better multi-threaded performance at budget prices. Comparing the i5-7600K shows that the 7600K is 20% faster for single and quad core workloads but looses by 20% for multi-core workloads. The Ryzen 5 line-up also includes the 6 core 12 threaded 1600X. By comparison, the 1500X is 24% less expensive, comes with a Wraith Spire cooler and impressively yields very similar single and quad core performance, but multi-core performance lags 50% behind the 1600X. Both chips can be overclocked, but out the box, the base and boost clock speeds are 3.5GHz and 3.7GHz for the 1500X and 3.6GHz and 4.0GHz for the 1600X. The 1500X is a very reasonable CPU for the money, which thanks to AMD's recent IPC improvements, punches far above its weight for multi-threaded performance by Intel's standards. [Apr '17CPUPro]

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